Elymus fibrosus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 40–70 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; drooping; bilateral; 6–15 cm long. Rhachis flattened; ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 10–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–7 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 9–11 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate; muticous. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 2 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern and eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Eur 1995.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.